"The goal is to acoustically optimize a given instrument through
balancing the response of the ribs, tone bars (or braces), and bridge."
                                                                          Steve Perry
  
A musical instrument must work as a whole to effectively project balanced and clear sound.  Recent work on violins
demonstrated that extremely small adjustments in the mass of specific areas of violin ribs, bass bar, and bridge substantially
improve tone, clarity, focus, and balance.  These adjustments are quite distinct from adjustments of the parts before
assembly (e.g., free plate analysis) because they deal with the behavior of the instrument's structure as a whole.  They are
also distinguished  from structural modification (e.g., tone bar shaving) because they rely on manipulation of very small
areas through minor burnishing or wood removal, rather than change in structural characteristics.   Why this process works
so effectively remains unknown.  Research demonstrating that higher frequency vibration modes often focus vibration into
quite small areas.  

The mandovoodootm process evolved from this violin work.

The process is iterative and addresses in order the ribs, bridge, and tone bars.  Pluck a string and run a fingertip over a
mandolin's ribs, listening carefully.  The apparent pitch of the vibrating string will usually change depending on where the
fingertip touches.  The same is true of tone bars and the bridge.  The mandovoodootm process involves the use of small
scrapers to even out the response of these mandolin elements.  The elements are not independent.  Adjustments to the
tone bars affect and require readjustment of the ribs.  Several iterations result in stability and a quite distinct improvement in
balance, clarity, and response.

See here for more details.
The mandovoodoo™ process was invented by and is only performed by Stephen Perry of Gianna Violins, the world's premier seller of fine
Eastman Mandolins.   Copyright © 2005-7 Stephen K. Perry.  No use without written permission.  By viewing you agree to all site terms and
conditions.   mandovoodoo.com (tm) is a division of Gianna Violins.